RCP Fabrication "NE29R" - Not Just Another 29 inch Mountain Bike

philly758
Posts
4
Joined
9/3/2009
Location
Goshen, CT US
Edited Date/Time 8/18/2014 10:19am
My buddy Ryan Pelletier, the owner and fabricator of RCP Fabrication, just launched a Kickstarter website for his new production NE29R mountain bike. Ryan has taken what he's learned from building custom bikes over the last few years and created a playful 29er built to slay the technical trails of New England. This project, which he has been working on for well over a year, is finally ready for the production level.

Since day one, every frame made by RCP has been hand built in Connecticut with materials that are made in the USA. It doesn't get more American than that! For more information about RCP Fabrication and to find a link to the Kickstarter website please visit http://www.rcpfabrication.com.


THE NE29R: Not Just Another 29 inch Mountain Bike

NE29R Prototype

What makes the NE29R unique?
Inspired by the extremely technical trails of New England, the NE29R is designed to remedy the lack of maneuverability and sluggish feel associated with most 29 inch mountain bikes. The NE29R frame is a versatile and efficient platform featuring shorter chain stays, a higher bottom bracket and tighter handling geometry than other 29ers.

Engineered with a 44mm head tube, the NE29R can be built with a variety of forks, including tapered steerer suspension and rigid forks.


NE29R Prototype


NE29R Prototype

From prototype to production:
The NE29R has been through three revisions and nearly a year of testing since the first concept. The most important part of the prototyping was to perfect the geometry.

The changes from prototype to production will include a rolled seat tube which will replace the forward offset seat tube found on the current version prototype, and a 44mm head tube (which was omitted from the prototype frame to keep costs down). The benefits to a rolled seat tube include:

•No changes in seat tube geometry.
•Removing an unnecessary gusset, and reducing frame weight.
•Allowing the use of a lighter down tube because it is no longer supporting the seat tube. This also reduces frame weight.
•A cleaner look.


The first batch of rolled seat tubes for the production NE29R's.

NE29R Geometry:

NE29R Regular Geometry


NE29R Long Geometry

NE29R Sizing:
Riders ranging in height from 5' 5" to 6' 0" can comfortably ride a "Regular" sized NE29R. To accommodate this range of riders stem lengths from 70-110mm have been offered. This allows the rider to find the perfect combination of seated and standing riding without the long sluggish feeling of other 29ers.

For taller riders, or if you prefer the feel of a longer bike, the NE29R is available in a "Long" which lengthens the frame’s cockpit by 2".

NE29R Frame and Complete Bicycle Specs:

NE29R Frame:
The NE29R frame is just one in a handful of production 29 inch mountain bike frames that are built in the United States. All tubing and materials that make up a NE29R frame are made in the United States.
•44mm head tube for fork versatility
•410mm chain stays for increased maneuverability
•Higher bottom bracket for more ground clearance and more lively feel

NE29R X7:
•Fork: Surly Karate Monkey or RockShox Recon Gold
•Crankset: FSA V-Drive Hollow SS
•Derailleur: SRAM X.7 Short Cage
•Cassette: SRAM PG-1030 11-36
•Chain: SRAM PC-1031
•Brakes: Avid Elixir 1 160mm
•Shifter: SRAM X.7
•Hubs: SRAM 406
•Rims: WTB FX28
•Headset: FSA Orbit Z
•Seat post: FSA SL280 420mm
•Handlebar: FSA Comet 740mm x 18mm
•Stem: FSA OS-190
•Saddle: WTB Rocket V Comp
•Tires: Schwalbe Rapid Rob 2.25

NE29R X9:
•Fork: Whisky 7 Carbon or RockShox Reba RLT 15mm
•Crankset: FSA V-Drive Hollow SS
•Derailleur: SRAM X.9 Type 2 Short Cage
•Cassette: SRAM PG-1050 11-36
•Chain: SRAM PC-1051
•Brakes: Avid Elixir 5 180mm
•Shifter: SRAM X.9
•Hubs: SRAM X.9
•Rims: WTB LaserDisc Trail
•Headset: FSA Orbit Z
•Seat post: Thomson Elite 410mm
•Handlebar: Thomson 780mm x 12mm
•Stem: Thomson X4
•Saddle: WTB Rocket V Comp
•Tires: Schwalbe Rapid Rob 2.25


NE29R Prototype

About RCP Fabrication:
RCP Fabrication is located in Southington, CT and manufacturers handmade custom and production bicycles using 4130 chromoly. RCP Fabrication is owned and backed by Ryan Pelletier who has over 10 years of welding and fabrication experience, and 3 years of custom bicycle frame building experience.


Every frame is precisely jigged to assure perfect geometry.



Every tube miter is machine cut assuring gap free fit-up.



State of the art fixturing equipment allows for the use of the most recent ISO and post style brake mounts in any rotor size.



Perfect miter fit-up and years of TIG welding experience comes together for exceptional weld appearance, quality, and strength.



Even the smallest details on every frame receive the same quality of fabrication ensuring perfection and uniformity.


Over the years, RCP Fabrication has fabricated numerous custom mountain, road, and trials frames. RCP Fabrication frames can be found all across the United States, Canada, and Australia.


A single speed trail shredding machine, built from Reynolds 853 tubing.



A 29er built for Flordia's trails.



An all mountain 26" hardtail.



A new spin on an old suspension road bike design.



A classic Fixed Gear.


This road bike was built and raffled for breast cancer research.



A Mod Trials bike.



A 26" Stock Trials bike.


For more information about RCP Fabrication and to find a link to the Kickstarter website please visit http://www.rcpfabrication.com



Thank you for looking!
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Big Bird
Posts
2173
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA US
10/23/2012 8:21am Edited Date/Time 10/23/2012 8:26am
.C'mon guys. Ya gotta speak up if you don't want to feel left out. Personally, being 6'7", I couldn't hang with that high BB. But I'd rock an XL Florida model. Beautiful workmanship. I'm jealous of your shop set up and your welds.
rcpfab
Posts
1
Joined
10/24/2012
Location
Southington, CT US
10/24/2012 6:37am Edited Date/Time 4/21/2016 10:22am
Big Bird wrote:
.C'mon guys. Ya gotta speak up if you don't want to feel left out. Personally, being 6'7", I couldn't hang with that high BB. But I'd...
.C'mon guys. Ya gotta speak up if you don't want to feel left out. Personally, being 6'7", I couldn't hang with that high BB. But I'd rock an XL Florida model. Beautiful workmanship. I'm jealous of your shop set up and your welds.
First of, thanks to Dan and Vital for posting this on the forum and the home page.

Big Bird, thanks for the compliments! While the NE29R is built with a broad range of riders in mind (with more sizes to come), I agree that the bottom bracket is too high for some one as tall as you are. Keep an eye out for 2014, as a more conventual geometry 29er is in the works.

Thanks

Ryan

RCP Fabrication
Big Bird
Posts
2173
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA US
10/25/2012 7:50am Edited Date/Time 4/21/2016 10:22am
Hey rcpfab. Given that I'm so tall, I've taken to making my own frames. I learned to weld in a motorcycle shop, but quickly turned the torch and rod to bikes. I borrow other Santa Cruz makers shops and tools. So far at Hunter and Black Cat. I can "Stack coins", but their more like Spanish dubloons instead of your nice clean dimes. Hears a link to what I've made over on the Dirt magazine website.

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/homemade-bikes-big-bird.html
philly758
Posts
4
Joined
9/3/2009
Location
Goshen, CT US
10/25/2012 8:18am Edited Date/Time 10/25/2012 8:30am
Big Bird, nice looking bikes! The downhill has got me thinking... Is that a SC Bullit swingarm strapped on there with a external BB pivot?

Big Bird
Posts
2173
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA US
10/26/2012 8:32am
@Philly Yep. When I first built the frame, it had a swing arm from an SWD which was made of steel and pretty heavy. So I took a 68mm BB, cut out a portion in the middle, milled out the old pivot and welded it in. The Bullit swing arm had almost exactly the same geometry. The seat angle is really steep to make room for the 9.5" of travel. I ran the floating brake mount for one glorious day, but the clamp crushed the seat tube. So it's shown here without it. Since then, I've cut out the damaged section and replaced it with thicker walled tubing and am now running it again.

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